Missing Priest Fr. Joseph Moolan Found Dead in Andhra Pradesh

Dibrugarh, March 26, 2026 — Fr. Joseph Moolan, a 91-year-old priest of the Dibrugarh diocese who was reported missing during a train journey earlier this week, has been found deceased in Andhra Pradesh, bringing a tragic end to an anxious search by Church authorities and family members.

The elderly priest had gone missing on March 24 while travelling on the Vivek Express from Dibrugarh to Ernakulam. According to initial reports, he was last seen at Rajahmundry railway station at approximately 10:30 p.m. that night. Following his disappearance, the diocese issued alerts and circulated a missing person’s notice, while the Railway Protection Force initiated search efforts.

Confirming the development to Catholic Connect, the Bishop’s Secretary of the diocese said that news of Fr. Moolan’s death was received from his family on the morning of March 26. His body was discovered near a railway track in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh. Authorities believe he may have accidentally fallen from the train during the journey, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.

In a statement expressing grief, Bishop Albert Hemrom of Dibrugarh described the priest’s passing as a profound loss to the Church. “The news of his unexpected death has brought immense sorrow to the diocese, his family, brother priests, religious, and all who knew him,” the statement read. Fr. Moolan was remembered as a devoted and gentle pastor whose life was marked by sincerity, zeal, and a deep commitment to serving God’s people.

The faithful have been urged to remember him in their prayers and to offer Holy Masses for the repose of his soul, as well as for his bereaved family.

A Life of Quiet Dedication

Born on January 6, 1936, in Kerala, Fr. Joseph Moolan was ordained to the priesthood on April 23, 1964. He began his ministry in the Diocese of Jalpaiguri, where he served in pastoral and educational roles, including as assistant parish priest and school administrator.

His missionary journey took a defining turn when he joined the Diocese of Dibrugarh in 1974. Over the years, he served in several key pastoral assignments, notably as the founding parish priest of Sonari from 1976 to 1982. He later served as parish priest of the Cathedral Parish in Dibrugarh from 1997 to 1999.

In 1999, he returned to Kerala for a period to care for his ageing mother, reflecting his deep sense of familial responsibility. In his later years, from 2011 to 2025, he served as confessor at St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, accompanying generations of seminarians in their spiritual formation.

Even in retirement, Fr. Moolan remained a man of prayer and quiet witness. His humility, pastoral sensitivity, and lifelong dedication to the Church leave behind a legacy cherished by those he served.

His passing marks the end of a long life devoted to missionary service, leaving the Church in mourning yet grateful for his enduring witness of faith.

By Catholic Connect Reporter